Office of Legal Aid - Survey on Legal Aid Needs of Migrant Workers in Shenzhen
Company overview
The Shenzhen Legal Aid Center is a legal aid institution established and administered by the Shenzhen Judicial Bureau. Its primary responsibility is to provide free legal services to vulnerable groups with limited financial resources and unable to afford legal representation, particularly those specified by law to receive legal counsel (such as defendants facing serious criminal charges or minors). The center's funding comes from central government allocations, and it strives to uphold social fairness and justice, enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of public legal services, and serves as a key component of Shenzhen's social rule-of-law construction framework
Research background
With the rapid development of Shenzhen's economy, a large number of migrant workers have become vital contributors to urban development. However, due to their relatively limited legal knowledge and scarce social resources, they often face risks of rights violations in areas such as labor disputes, housing rentals, medical care, and children's education. The Shenzhen Legal Aid Center aims to understand the potential legal issues and service demands migrant workers encounter in their daily lives and work, in order to more scientifically allocate resources, optimize the layout of service stations, and improve the precision and accessibility of legal aid services, ensuring that the achievements of urban rule-of-law construction benefit the broadest possible population
Research scope
In September 2017, CEIDEA Research was commissioned by the Shenzhen Legal Aid Center to conduct a specialized investigation into the legal needs of migrant workers. The study employed a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative questionnaires and qualitative interviews, covering multiple labor-intensive and industrial clusters across Shenzhen. It aimed to gain in-depth insights into the legal issues migrant workers face during employment, including labor disputes, workplace injury handling, contract performance, social security, and housing rental. The research also explored their awareness of legal aid services, usage patterns, satisfaction levels, and preferred access channels. Additionally, the study assessed public preferences for legal aid promotion channels and the varying demands of different population groups regarding the convenience and location of service stations
Expected outcomes
This study will provide the Shenzhen Legal Aid Center with a comprehensive profile of the legal service needs of migrant workers, revealing their primary concerns and service gaps. The research findings will serve as a precise basis for optimizing service supply structures, scientifically planning service station locations, and improving service efficiency. Additionally, the study will offer strategic recommendations to enhance the outreach and public acceptance of legal aid policies, effectively advancing the construction of a widely accessible, equitable, and efficient public legal service system.
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